Wheeled propeller sheath



Feb. 4, 1958 w. H. MONTGOMERY 2,822, 83

WHEELED PROPELLER SHEATH Original Filed April 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iliililllilili' ,Q I l//// mummy) INVENTO\R. William H.Mon1gomery Feb. 4, 1958 w. H. MONTGOMERY 2,822,183

WHEELED PROPELLER SHEATH Original Filed April 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wi l licm H. Montgomery United States Patent WHEELED PROPELLER SHEATH William H. Montgomery, Seattle, Wash.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 281,723,

April 11, 1952. This application March 18, 1955, Serial No. 495,198

2 Claims. (Cl. 28047.13)

The present invention relates to a wheeled sheath adapted to encase the lower end portion of an outboard motor and particularly the propeller thereof and is a substitute for my prior abandoned application, Ser. No. 281,723, filed April 11, 1952.

Commonly while an outboard motor is being transported, as in the trunk of an automobile, its propeller and propeller shaft are bent and otherwise damaged due to a repeated jarring action. Another problem continuously present is that of manually moving the motor, and particularly those of the large horsepower output, to and from the automobile and the boat on which the motor is to be used.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a device which will protect the propeller of an outboard motor while it is being transported and which will greatly ease the work of manually moving the motor.

With these and other still more particular objects and advantages in view, and which will appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter decribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section taken along line 11 of Fig. 2 and showing my invention in operative position on an outboard motor.

Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section taken as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my invention shown in an open position in readiness to receive the lower end portion of an outboard motor.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view to a reduced scale of my invention as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of my invention applied to an outboard motor and showing the latter being transported thereby.

For purposes of example the sheath of the present invention has been shown adapted to be used on an outboard motor 6 having a two-bladed propeller 7 whose drive shaft is journaled in a boss 8 formed integrally with and bulging laterally from the motor rudder 10. The conventional anticavitation plate above the rudder and propeller is denoted 11.

My sheath is preferably made up of two shells 13, 14 formed from wood, plastic, or any other suitable material and these shells are mirror complements of one another. Each shell has a flat inner face 15 which is interrupted by a central concavity 16 of tear drop configuration merging with shallower depressions 17, 18 at its forward end and a pair of recesses 20, 21 adjacent its rear end. These depressions 17, 18 together with the concavity 16 are shaped to collectively fit over one lateral side of the rudder 10, boss 8, and the hub of the propeller 7, the depression 17 being of course open at the top edge of the shell. Likewise, the recesses 20, 21 are shaped .2 to house half of the blades of the propeller. The peripheral outline of the shells and the shape of their outer walls is a matter of choice, the intent being to provide rigidity with 'a minimum of material.

The shells are connected together at'their lower ends by a hinge 22 and are provided fore and aft with mating fittings 23, 24 of bolt-type latches 25 and 26. Mating eye fittings 27 are desirably provided for receiving a padlock to prevent pilferage of the device from a motor towhich it is applied.

At their forward lower aft corner the shells are each formed with an integral laterally extending hub 28 whose bore is provided with a counterbore 30 at its inner end. Mounted in each of the hubs 28 is a stub axle 31 formed with a head collar 32 and having its inner end threaded to receive a retaining nut 33 housed in the counterbore 30 along with a washer 29. Shouldered between the head collars 32 and respective spacing washers 34 are the ball bearing units 35 of wheels 36, 37. These wheels preferably have their lowermost peripheral extent in substantial alignment with the lower edge 38 of the shells.

As shown in Fig. 3 the sheath can be opened up and laid with its wheels flat on the ground surface. It is then a relatively simple task for one person to swing the sheath shells together after the motor has been lowered by a helper to bring the motors rudder 10 into adjacency with the sheath hinge 22. If mounting the sheath is to be a one-man operation, then after the sheath has been opened up the motor can be laid on its side with its lower end resting on one of the shells so that the other shell can be sw-ung over into the closed position.

It is perforce not necessary that the recesses 20, 21 closely fit the blades of the propeller 7. However, to prevent shifting of the sheath relative to the motor it is advantageous to have the mating concavities 16 in the two shells formed to closely surround the motor boss 8. For the same reason, it is desirable to shape the top edge of the sheath in conformance with the underside of the anticavitation plate 11.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the motor can be readily carted by the wheels 36, 37 when the motor is tilted rearwardly slightly to lift the base of the sheath free from the ground. Thus it is seen that the invention serves a dual function, namely that of protecting the propeller and transporting the motor. It will be apparent from the above description that the recesses 20, 21 can be readily modified to provide a sheath which will fit a motor whose propeller has more than two blades.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the now preferred illustrated embodiments. Minor changes in the details of construction can selfevidently be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is therefore my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

What I claim is:

1. In a combined cart and propeller protective device for an outboard motor, a removable guard adapted to shroud the motors propeller and including two rigid incasement members movable with respect to one another, means for removably mounted said guard on the motor in a propeller investing position, and wheel means journalmounted on the guard and adapted to support the motor when the guard is mounted thereon.

2. In a combined cart and propeller protective device for an outboard motor, two members formed as the congruent halves of a propeller-investing case and hingedly connected so as to permit the case to be opened and closed for removably applying the propeller to the case,

References Cited in the -file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roberts May 10, 1887 Barnes Apr. 21, 1903 4 Riggin June 9, 1914 Cobb July 14, 1914 Kitchen et a1 June 6', 1916 Barkdoll June 7, 1932 Prices June 3, 1941 Gorrell et a1 Mar. 12, 1946 Harmsen Mar. 18, 1952 Drain Ian. 19, 1954 

